Cath Ex Southend - Salisbury 31st Aug 2011

Any news of this tour yet? I'm stuck in the office, catching up after a week away, and feeling I'm missing out...

TIA

 

Reported on another site:

'Steam loco 70000 on 1Z34 Southend-Salisbury charter, through Harringay Green Lanes @1046'

 

Pretty much on time then. I hope to see it pass Woking today. Just acquired a Flip HD Video so hope to be able to plug into the computer and press a button to download although I am sure it won't be quite as simple as that!

 

70000 with 1Z34 away from West Hampstead at 11:03, bang on time with the
Cathedrals Express to Salisbury.

 

70000 departed the water stop at Chertsey a few mins down,sounding terrific as it passed several photographers on the bridge next to Addlestone cemetery.

 

Looked and sounded fine at leigh on sea this morning. Good to see steam back on the L.T.S.

Stan

 

It was lucky as shortly afterwards the North London Line fell in too a period of chaos due to a Lorry hitting a bridge somewhere near Kew. Not sure of the exact time or bridge but know I had to wait 35 mins for a east bound train too Stratford.

 

My son reports that the train looked well patronised as it passed him at Egham.

Hopefully no repeat of the water problems this time out.

 

Running around 25 minutes late after Basingstoke. Report on RTL suggesting signal problems near Deepcut with 70000 waiting at red signal for 'manual release'. Any signalers able to enlighten? 70000 running well at Worting anyway.

 

Signalling problems at Farnborough Main according to the station announcements at Basingstoke.
Approached on slow line but transferred to fast just before station and was accelerating nicely through the station.
Great to see 70000 again, last time was at Severn Valley back in the 80's

 

As 118 mention,the train looked packed...oh! and no box.
Hope everyone has a lovely day coming up from Essex.

 

On time near Fleet this evening.

 

Through Virginia Water @ 1904.Nearly brought to a stand but the signal cleared just in time.Wonderful spectacle from the two cylinder loco as the driver got her going again.

Seen earlier today just after the water stop at Chertsey.http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Rail...Steam-2011/17580045_BxQB2R#1457198937_2WZxL9h

 

My pictures from Fleet are now on Flickr. They are in the 'Stop Press! Latest Pictures!!' Collection in the Set dated 31st August :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/collections/72157627090322278/

They'll be there for about a month, but they can also be seen in the Main Line Steam collection which is here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/collections/72157627155603462/

Hope that they are of interest.

 

Just off to go and find a nice spot on the LTS and see her on her return. Good to hear the train was well patronised...

Stan

 

Reported 17 early somewhere on NLL this evening.

 

An Impromptu visit to West Hampstead whilst in the Capital this morning saw these shots taken...

 

Went to Woking from Camberley to see the Brit during its booked stop at Woking station. Then disaster!

Up 5-car Pompey on the fast and I could see 70000 coming around the bend in the distance from the Brookwood stop. I strolled down to the east end of the station for the customary shots and the electric was pulling away, so perfect only to suddently realise that Britannia was not stopping and with a blast on its chime whistle passed behind the electric, out of my direct view, and off to London.

Any reason why it did not stop at Woking? Was it not a booked stop?

Oh well. At least I saw its smoke!

 

All in all a good day out. Surprised to see it was DB operated and not the usual West Coast job. We were late on the outward journey due to signal failures between Brookwood and Farnborough, but other than that everything ran to plan. We were not booked to stop at Woking on the return.